"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

An excellent post deserving a full read. But I’d like to offer one bit of feedback, emphasis mine:

So how did we get here again? The short answer is that we got lazy. Quite simply, Americans don’t understand what it’s like to not be free. The average American has no concept of what it is like to live under the control of a government, and therefore has a false sense of security. As a nation, we can’t really comprehend the idea that our freedom could be taken away, so protecting our personal liberty isn’t a priority anymore – I don’t think I need to articulate how dangerous that is. Those in office do not generally like to limit their own power, which leads to, well, Congress. Our liberty is something we need to protect.

This past year was a wake up call. Congress isn’t doing anything unprecedented. They are doing what any law making body does when they aren’t being held accountable – they are doing what’s best for them. The thing about Americans is that we want it our way, and we only let ourselves get pushed around for so long. Then we get angry.

Anyone who has served in the military, i.e. under the UCMJ, knows full well the meaning having one’s freedoms abridged.

There are time and places when such sacrifices make sense. Sacrificing a lesser, personal amount for the greater public whole can be worthwhile. On. A. Voluntary. Basis.

But a government cramdown is not what I’m talking about. Furthermore, having a Federal government require personal sacrifice for the greater public whole, all the while knowing that nothing but ruin can come of the result, is diabolical.

Hence the fact that service members are among the louder voices protesting the evil.

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I disagree, the opposite is the case. Most Americans have not been free for decades and are perfectly accustomed to going along with whatever the government, or their employer acting as an agent for the government, will have them do.

The government has its program. The corporation, large to medium, must comply with all kinds of mandates from the government to be permitted to exist. These range from safety regulations to conducting diversity seminars. The government collects payroll and income taxes with little visibility to the payer from the corporation, and the rest are taken at the cash register.

Few people *pay* taxes in the form of actually writing a check to the government. Few people must obey the government directly in terms of complying with its numerous regulations- the corporation does that for them, and for the employees who do it more regulation is more job security. Corporate counsel and HR are de facto government employees.

When you add up government employees, the entire legal profession, the entire HR profession, much of the healthcare industry, and their dependents, I think there is actually a majority of voters now with a vested interest in less, not more freedom. No, democracy does not equal freedom.

I disagree, the opposite is the case. Most Americans have not been free for decades and are perfectly accustomed to going along with whatever the government, or their employer acting as an agent for the government, will have them do.

The government has its program. The corporation, large to medium, must comply with all kinds of mandates from the government to be permitted to exist. These range from safety regulations to conducting diversity seminars. The government collects payroll and income taxes with little visibility to the payer from the corporation, and the rest are taken at the cash register.

Few people *pay* taxes in the form of actually writing a check to the government. Few people must obey the government directly in terms of complying with its numerous regulations- the corporation does that for them, and for the employees who do it more regulation is more job security. Corporate counsel and HR are de facto government employees.

When you add up government employees, the entire legal profession, the entire HR profession, much of the healthcare industry, and their dependents, I think there is actually a majority of voters now with a vested interest in less, not more freedom. No, democracy does not equal freedom.

I disagree, the opposite is the case. Most Americans have not been free for decades and are perfectly accustomed to going along with whatever the government, or their employer acting as an agent for the government, will have them do.

The government has its program. The corporation, large to medium, must comply with all kinds of mandates from the government to be permitted to exist. These range from safety regulations to conducting diversity seminars. The government collects payroll and income taxes with little visibility to the payer from the corporation, and the rest are taken at the cash register.

Few people *pay* taxes in the form of actually writing a check to the government. Few people must obey the government directly in terms of complying with its numerous regulations- the corporation does that for them, and for the employees who do it more regulation is more job security. Corporate counsel and HR are de facto government employees.

When you add up government employees, the entire legal profession, the entire HR profession, much of the healthcare industry, and their dependents, I think there is actually a majority of voters now with a vested interest in less, not more freedom. No, democracy does not equal freedom.

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